Back in the Saddle Again

Being a business owner is an awesome thing. For me it gives me the flexibility I need. For example, I am also a mom of two young boys (7 and 4) who are full of life and energy. The summer has been a challenge keeping up with my business and them. So I made a conscious decision not to load up during the summer and wait until they are back in school. What does this have to do with business. Well for me I would be just spinning my wheels trying to meet obligations I could not meet. So I needed to set realistic goals and sometimes adjust.

So today was their first day in school. They had a blast. And so did I. I had two great meetings, I worked on a project for a client, picked up items for a silent auction I am helping with and now I am taking care of some administrative stuff (kids are in bed). All in all it is a great day. Already my week is booked solid. For me when the day is done and I go to bed, I will know that my clients are being taken care of and my kids are well. It's good to be back in the saddle again, although I like to rest sometimes with my little guys.

Knowing When to Walk Away Can be The Best Thing You Can Do For Yourself

I recently parted ways with a client after realizing that the project we were working on was really not suited for my tempermant. It was a difficult decision, I really enjoyed the project. What I realized was the project was not a good fit for me. I am a big picture person and this was a project for a micro-manager. So even though the content was fun, the project became a burden. Now I am free to work on projects for my clients that use my talents where they are better suited. This was a valuable lesson.

So if you ever find yourself feeling uneasy about a project ask yourself:
Is this a good project for me?
Is this the best use of my talents?
Can I be more productive and fulfilled working on something else?

If the answer is yes then you might want to consider moving on. It can be the best decision you make for yourself or your business.

Accountability is a Good Thing

I had a great coaching call with a client the other day and he commented on how powerful the accountability was to him. He noted by just knowing he had to review his week with me, made him focus more on his business. Clearly the goals he set were his and not mine. Yet knowing that we would discuss where he is in the process and what challenges he is facing in getting there was critical to his success.

When Marketing a Service - You Are Marketing You

CJ Hayden asks in this article, are you lost in your marketing material? Or can you be found in your marketing material? What she means is when you market a service, people are buying you and a relationship with you. Take a look at the article and then your marketing material and see if your message is clear and if people have the ability to get to know you and develop a relationship with you. Here is the article: What You are Marketing is Yourself